Friday, July 30, 2010

Missing Piece

MISSING PIECE
Isaiah 55:1-6
V. 2: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”


“There” Timmy said, as he fit a piece into the jigsaw puzzle. “Where’s the last piece, Greg?”


“Good question, Tim.” Greg combed the floor underneath the card table. ”Where could it be?”




Watching the rain drizzle steadily, Timmy said from the sheltered patio, “One thing’s for sure, no swimming today!”

“Figures.” Greg grumbled. “What else could go missing?”

“What’re you talking about?” Tim looked into Greg’s eyes, then back at the rain. “Besides our losing almost two weeks of summer fun to make up snow days in school, what else is missing?”
“Besides the puzzle piece?” Greg nitpicked. “Not sure…but I just feel empty, somehow.”

“Want to toss ball?” Tim suggested.

“Sure. The ball’s in the chest.”

Tim opened the lid to the treasure chest-looking toy box. After digging around, he flipped a baseball in the air. “What’s really bugging you, Greg?”

“Not sure” Greg caught Tim’s ball and tossed it back. “I guess that kid—Marshall—freaked me out. Did you see his reverse dive off the high diving board?” (See Garlic and Diamonds devotion).

“Yeah, sure did! He made me feel totally lame by jumping into the water feet first.”

“We didn’t talk about that.”

“Nah, why point out the obvious?”

Sometimes we pursue the wrong things when something’s missing (in our beings). Despite our knowing and worshipping God, (on the outside), He’s not the central hub—around which we plan every aspect of our lives. When we feel distant from God, things seem to fall apart. As one’s life begins to crumble, it’s easier to yield to sin. Even observing good manners is difficult.

Isaiah reminded the Israelites to focus on God. When God’s kids eat and drink what is good—reading and studying the Bible—life’s missing piece falls back into place. God wants us near, and will find a way to get our attention when we drift away.
“We should have at least congratulated Marshall, right?” Greg wondered aloud.

“Yeah, we could have…even though he’s younger. He’s very talented.”

“That’s what’s bothering me!” Greg admitted. “And he’s new. We could have made him feel included, welcome…Look! Here’s the missing piece to our puzzle!”

“Cool!” Tim said…”But I hear you, Greg. We didn’t treat Marshall decently, did we?”
Take Home Nugget

Greg fit the missing piece into the now completed puzzle. “Yeah, I’ll feel better when we make it up to him the next time.”

God-shaped void in our hearts cannot be filled with treasure;
For only God satisfies our souls in ways we cannot measure.
J.D. Griffith
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

What Recession?

WHAT RECESSION?
1Chronicles 29:11
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.” Emphasis mine.

For sure, there is a reason for our plummeting economy. What’s God’s purpose for it? Could it be because hidden sin requires repentance and cleansing? Are we to awaken to our desperate plight in a fallen world—where there remains constant recession—and call out to our Father for help? Is this happening so we remember the origins of joy: His grace, rather than goods, His mercy, rather than money, His worth, rather than our meager wealth?

Does our recession trigger love for being generous to severely hurting people? Are there members in your church who need financial assistance?

What does God long to teach us in difficult times? Luke 1:37 assures us that nothing is impossible for God. Is this our test to demonstrate that we haven’t forgotten Jesus’ great commission in Matthew 28:20? We’ve got work to do, sisters and brothers! We haven’t been abandoned!

Are we being reminded that there is only one source of security? Apostle Paul advises us in 1Timothy 6:17-19. We’re not to trust in uncertain riches, but in the Living God—Who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let us continue to do good, give, willing to share. We have an opportunity, during times of diminished resources, to grow richer in good works and generosity. (Storing up a rich foundation for eternal life).

When finances rebound, and stability returns, will we have learned to let go, instead of hoarding our blessings? When will God’s kids learn to trust solely in God?
Take Home Nugget

Matthew 7:7-11 contains two generous assurances for us to embrace—especially during hard times: 1.) We’re allowed, and encouraged, to come to God with our requests. And 2.) He promises to answer our prayers.

Often, our requests aren’t for our own good. That’s where v.11 (verse 11) sheds light on the way God answers our prayers. Many of His gifts to us are intangible (in-TANJ-i-bl, means invisible). Often God gives us what’s most valuable to our growth—growth in Christ-like qualities.

With time, our perspective expands to get why God gave us patience, endurance, tolerance, fortitude (meaning acceptance, staying power with courage and strength) instead of concrete gifts, like a car, better clothes, more talent or wealth.

Just because we may not understand God’s answer to prayer doesn’t negate His goodness.

One thing assures us secures us, whatever betide,
Scripture promises us that God’s on our side.
When all we have is God, we’ve got it all:
Despite our insecurities, He’ll never let us fall.

J.D. Griffith
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Friday, July 23, 2010

Rest

REST
Genesis 2:1-7
V.2: “By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy; because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”

Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God.”

Aaron erupted from the river’s depth and scrambled onto the shore where his classmates had come to celebrate his tenth Birthday. “Eat some of this ice cream before it melts!” Aaron’s Mom insisted.

Ben, Evan, and Ashley tossed a Frisbee. “I can’t believe that we’ve got to return to school so soon!” Aaron said, disgusted.

“Yeah, it’s too hot to sit inside a classroom!” Ben said.

“After making up all the snow days, this Summer’s too short!” Ashley complained.

Kids love frolicking in the water during summer recess. Where do the kids go who live in southern Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama to cool off? Their beach is tainted from the oil gush that began spewing earlier this year. Their wetlands destroyed, wildlife dying. What’s up with this Summer’s heat? Too cold in winter, too hot in summer! Where will God’s kids find relief? When will we get a break?

When adults cannot work, where do they find stress release? We remember times when life totally stops. The power goes off, and we sit in the dark. An ice storm blankets the entire landscape, and we’re home bound. God forbid---what would happen if a dirty bomb creates an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) and everything with electronic circuitry shuts down?

Gulp! No TV! No computers! What would happen if we’re suddenly thrown into the stone age? Unexpected disasters do more than distract us, they halt life. All of a sudden priorities are reshuffled to determine what’s truly important. In Old Testament times, God got people to stop and pay attention to Him by calling the seventh week day called “the Sabbath”.

Jesus’ death ushered in a new Covenant between God and His kids—animal sacrifices aren’t necessary for sins’ atonement. We’re no longer required to honor rest, as proclaimed by God’s ancient law; few businesses are closed for the Sabbath today.

Should we return to that one day of total rest from work and worries on our Sabbath today?

Take Home Nugget

By practicing a day of rest can prevent our erroneous belief that work and worry is more important than time spent in God’s presence. If it’s relief we’re seeking, God’s anxious to respond to that need.

He provides my work, and I seek his rest.
He supplies strength that sees me through every test.
Without knowing it, I continually walk in His grace
While finding joy when observing His pace.
J.D. Griffith
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Crossroad? Let God Choose

CROSSROAD? LET GOD CHOOSE
Genesis 13
Vv. 8-9: “So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine; for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’”

When God told Abram to go to the land where He was leading Abram to, Abram pitched his tents at various places along the way. At every stop, Abram built an altar, where he worshipped, calling on God. Between Bethel and Ai, once again, Abram built an altar and called on God (vv.3-4).

“Hey Lot, did you hear about the fight between your and my herdsmen for whose flocks would use the water?”

“Yeah. Sorry about that, my brother. Evidently we’ve run out of room for all our flocks to come together in the same land.”

“Why don’t we fix this right now, Lot? I hate it when our people fight amongst themselves—surely there’s enough land for us both to have plenty! God wants us to live in peace. Look here, Lot” Abram pointed to the huge vista directly ahead. “Choose for yourself where you want to settle down.”

Lot scratched his head, his eyes roaming left, right, and back to the left. “Do you see how well watered the plain of Jordan is—the land looks like the garden of the Lord! I choose that land.” Lot and Abram embraced, and parted company. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot went east to live on the plain around the cities (vv.10-12).

When you need to make a decision, and stop before a crossroad, how do you choose which way to go, what to do?
Take Home Nugget


It’s always our best choice to let God choose the direction we should go, when confronted with a decision that’s confusing. Waiting on God may take some time before reaching a decision, but isn’t that our best choice? Lot chose for himself, and lost everything—his family, his fortune, his popularity.

Abram saw everything clearly, and was content to let God choose what’s best for him. Abram and God let Lot choose for himself, which made Abram’s decision a no-brainer. Contentment comes when we want what is God’s will for us—way better choice than insisting on having our own way.

Whenever we’re hauling a full load
And wonder what would be God’s way,
Feeling uncertain at a crossroad,
God promises to never fail you day by day.

J.D. Griffith
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Friday, July 16, 2010

Garlic and Diamonds

GARLIC AND DIAMONDS
James 2:1-9
V.1: “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.”

“What’s the first thing you notice when meeting someone?” I ask you, my reader.

Nine year old Jamie said to her brother, Greg, age eight, as they parted company at the public swimming pool, “You passed your swimming test, so you can play in the big pool now. Let me know when you get hungry.”

Greg nodded, heading to the deep end. “See ya later.”

Greg met Timmy in line to go off the high diving board when a new boy got in line next. Greg looked at him, and noticed his bright blue sparkling eyes. His swimming trunks were ripped and dirty. That doesn’t matter, they’ll get clean in the pool, he thought. “How will you go into the pool, Tim?”

“First time, I’ll just jump feet first. I kind of get freaked my first jump, because it seems so far to the water!”

“What’s your name?” Greg turned and asked the new boy.

“Marshall.” He smiled, showing 2 missing front teeth.

“Are you new, Marshall? I never noticed you here before” Greg asked.

“We just moved here from Arizona.”
“I hear your accent now” Greg said. “I’m Greg, and that guy” Greg pointed, “is Tim.”

“Hi. What grade are you guys in?”

“Going to third” Greg replied, puffing out his chest.

“I’m going to second.” Marshall admitted.

“Well, you’ll get used to the high dive after you jump off it a couple times…don’t worry, Marshall. It’s quite a thrill!”

“High dive is my passion.”

“Really?”

Timmy jumped in the pool, feet first, as he said. He sputtered as soon as his head emerged out of the water, and he swam as fast as he could to the pool’s edge.

Timmy and Marshall both watched Greg, who also jumped in feet first.

At the pool’s edge, Greg and Timmy watched Marshall. He walked to the diving board’s end, then turned around. Timmy said, “What’s he going to do?” Marshall raised both his arms out straight, then up.

Greg’s mouth flew open as they watched Marshall execute a perfect reverse dive.

All Greg remembered as they climbed out of the pool was, Marshall has really sparkling blue eyes.”

Take Home Nugget


James 2 is scripture that warns against playing favoritism. Regardless of a person’s social status, whether rich or poor, we’re to respect others. God calls us to demonstrate concern for and have interest in all people.

Heavenly Father, You welcome Your kids into Your kingdom, not because of who we are, but because of who You are. Help us to open our arms in fellowship to everyone, remembering Your love and mercy towards us. Amen.

J.D. Griffith
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

God's Mine

GOD’S MINE
Psalm 50:12
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you for the world is Mine, and all that is in it.”

Julie Ackerman Link describes infant eaglets in a devotion published by RBC Ministries1. Baby eaglets are the perfect illustration of why we shouldn’t be greedy in protecting our own self interests.
Before they’re one week old, baby eaglets fight over food. Neither one is strong enough to even hold up its head for more than a few seconds, but each fight the other over food every time the parents arrived at the nest. The twins looked like fuzzballs with attached bobble heads. The bigger eaglet pecks down his smaller brother, and snatchs up the fish for himself. The smaller eaglet can’t get one bite.

Food isn’t scarce. Their parents repeatedly bring food, so the supply seems endless. The infant eaglets are offered fish that are many times larger than their size. Their food is abundant—way more than what’s needed—plenty enough for them both. But still the larger eaglet is too greedy to allow his sibling one single bite of food.

Does the greedy eaglet remind you of anyone? James 4:1-5 teaches us that it’s foolish to try obtaining for ourselves what belongs to someone else. We often fight over things that we see God giving to another. Whether God’s blessing is for a friend, sister or brother, another relative, neighbor, or class mate, we try snatching it up for ourselves. Do we realize that God has something good for every one of His kids? We really don’t need what He gives to someone else, because there’s more than enough for everyone.
Always hard to do, but have you ever been disappointed when obeying the admonishment, “Wait your turn?” Every time we receive what we wait for, we are learning patience (PAY-shents means tolerance with courage to endure). But patience isn’t learned after just one time of receiving after waiting. Patience often seems to be a bad word, when we’re sorely tempted to want something right now.
Belly’s growl when waiting in line for a hot dog—because you can smell it, see it. Licking your lips in anticipation prepares you for that taste. When will we learn that there’s enough food for everyone waiting in line?

Take Home Nugget


Does the larger eaglet pecking down his brother make you sad? Is it ever permissible to harm someone to get what we need, or want? Our needs can’t exhaust God’s supply. He never comes to us when He’s hungry.

The secret of contentment is to
Let the Lord supply;
Our job is to do our job, and put God first,
So gratitude and thankfulness is our reply.

J.D. Griffith
1 Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 22, 2010.
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Friday, July 9, 2010

Mine!

MINE!
Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

“No!” Nina screeched, grabbing the game.

“Mom!” Nina’s brother, Timmy, yelled out. “Nina won’t share the game.” He ran to the covered patio to explain. “I wanted to teach her how to play, but she refuses to let me set it up.”
“Alright, come with me” their Mom said.

The rain continued pounding the roof, as Mom sat down. “Nina, give me the game. Tim wants to show you how to play it with him.”

Nina’s scowl darkened as she hugged the game to her chest. “No.”

“Give it to me at once, Nina!” Mom insisted.

Nina tentatively surrendered the game.

Mom handed the game to Tim, explaining, “Nina, this is how you share. Everything does not belong to you, dear. When you release something to someone else, their love returns to you. Your happiness is doubled.”
Nina watched Tim set up the floor game, fascinated.

“And” Mom waited until Nina looked at her, “when you’re sad, Tim can help you. This divides your trouble. Sharing has a win-win ending; everyone’s happy.”

“You go first, Nina” Tim handed her the dice. “Throw it down and see how many spaces you can move your player.”

Their Mom had to step in and end many quarrels between her children, just as all God’s kids fight among themselves. Most often people are selfish, and look out only for their own interests. This is an age-old problem. When someone wants to advance his or her person ahead of others, attitudes quickly become disruptive and divisive. This leads to disorder, and things quickly become ugly. Then people argue instead of playing (or working) nicely together.
The apostle Paul warned his church in Philippi against this problem. Bickering never solved problems. The good news is that this problem has a fix. He taught us to not only protect our own interests, but to look out for the interests of others in Philippians 2:3-4. Jesus urges His brothers and sisters to treat others the way we’d like to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Timmy joined his Mom in their patio. “Will it ever quit raining?” he asked, bouncing a ball.
Will you guys ever play nicely with each other? his Mom replied.

Laughing, Tim said, “Yeah. Nina won the stupid game.”
Take Home Nugget


What will your life’s book reveal about how you treat others? Will there be chapters of selfishness? Will there be chapters of selflessness? Will it show how you looked out for others?
Selflessness prevents broken friendships, as well as not being consumed with self.
J.D. Griffith
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Reverent Attitude=Acceptance

REVERENT ATTITUDE=ACCEPTANCE
Genesis 4:1-7
V. 2b: “Now Abel kept the flocks, and Cain worked the soil.”

“Isn’t it time for us to present our offerings before the Lord?” Abel asked his brother Cain as they began a new day.

“Yeah, whatever” Cain responded.

“Aren’t you grateful for the Lord’s abundant blessings to us?”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“Meet you at sundown to present our gifts, then?” Abel inquired.

“Yeah, whatever.”

Abel prepared fat portions from a firstborn lamb (Genesis 4:4), as dusk settled upon their day. He wrapped the fat inside the lamb’s skin and brought it meet Cain.

Cain harvested fruit from one tree which had fruit that ripened a couple days earlier. Why is working the soil so hard? He wondered. The fruit ripens so quickly, and I’m too busy to get it all harvested before it begins decaying. Oh well, this will just have to do. What does the Lord need with my offering, anyway? Can’t He get His own fruit—when it’s perfect?

They met together at the designated place of worship. ”Hey Cain!” Abel greeted his brother.



“Yeah, whatever” Cain responded. “Let’s get this over with.”

“That fruit smells weird…Is it acceptable?”

“Whatever” Cain said. “It’s the best I could do.”

Abel knelt on the ground, and lifted his lambskin with the fat portions up high. “Almighty Lord, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and all things we see before us, have mercy on us. Accept this gift offering in gratitude for Your abundant blessings. With thanks and praise, I serve You every day.”

Cain knelt beside Abel, and lifted his harvested fruit up high. “Holy Lord, here’s Your offering. Thanks a lot.”

The men parted then, and God spoke to Cain. “Your offering is not anything I'll accept. Try again, son.”

Cain asked Abel, the next morning, “Want to see for yourself how quickly the fruit ripens? Come with me, brother.”

“OK” Abel agreed...It was the last thing Abel did.





Take Home Nugget



Before Cain killed his brother, Abel, the Lord tried again to win his heart. “If you had done the right thing, your offering would have been accepted, too. When you refuse to obey Me in your heart and action, sin has already won.” (Paraphrased from Genesis 4:7).

God never refuses a heart that’s surrendered to Him.

Lord, when I worship You with praise,
My heart’s already surrendered to Your ways.
Make my offerings of love
Be worthy of Your blessings from above.

J.D. Griffith


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Friday, July 2, 2010

You--God's Origami

YOU—GOD’S ORIGAMI
Romans 8:22-30
Vv. 29-30: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.”

For those of God’s kids who choose salvation—believing in Jesus—there is unending inside work. This work lasts entire lifetimes. This work makes you "God’s work in progress."
How does conforming, predestining, calling, justifying, and glorifying happen?

Origami (or-i-GOM-EE, means folding paper) is Japanese. This term is derived from two Japanese words that define a skilled process--for which every person can learn to excel. From a single piece of paper, making precise geometric folds and creases, one creates something unique (u-NEEK, means one-of-a-kind).



As you fashion a single piece of paper into a bird, or a squirrel, think about how God’s shaping you, too. First, God uses circumstances to bring His kids to their knees, seeking Him. Fold one.



Then God engulfs us with His grace—twisting and turning our lives—until we emerge a close resemblance of Jesus. “Conformed into the image of His Son” is how Romans 8:29 describes our transformation. Aren’t we glad that God’s reconfiguring us into the likeness of a person, instead of a bird? But the “shape” has two meanings. Jesus’ soul is God’s target area: Mind, heart, emotions. Fold two.




Often God uses His other kids, like your parents, teachers, or Pastor to help His molding your soul into a mirror reflection of Jesus. Just like teachers show us the proper way to do all kinds of stuff, God uses them to help reshape us.

How many folds, twists, and creases does it take for God to transform you into the likeness of Jesus?

Take Home Nugget

When God’s kids' lives take unexpected turns—and we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory—remember what’s happening. Regardless of how freaked you get with difficult circumstances, remember who’s in control. Remember whose you are...In whose hands could you be more secure than in the hands of your Creator and Redeemer? Would you trade places with another?
Remember that the person you become looks like Jesus in God’s eyes.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10.


You are the potter, Lord; I am the clay.
Have Your way, Lord; have it all Your way.
Mold and shape me as determined by Your will;
I await Your fashioning me, yielded and still.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA, ON YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY!


J.D. Griffith
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